By John Matonich
Similar to many folks, I enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning. Actually, I enjoy having a couple of cups. Unlike a lot of coffee drinkers, though, I don’t drink mochas or lattes or iced coffee or any of the other options that seem to be quite prominent these days.
I started drinking coffee at an early age. I may have been 5 or 6 when I would get up early on a weekend morning and join my dad in the kitchen. He would be enjoying his cup of coffee and would pour me one. After adding some canned milk and some sugar, we would sit together drinking our coffee and eating some saltine crackers smeared with butter. Not necessarily a breakfast of champions, but I wouldn’t trade those memories for anything. We used the time to plan our day. Whether it was going fishing or hunting or picking rock in his garden, we took some time to ease into the day. I still think I am going to walk into my kitchen one of these days and see him sitting there waiting for me to sit down and plan our day.
Of course, when I went off to college, coffee was a lifeblood of most students at that time. Whether it was to help wake up in the morning or stay up for an all-nighter, coffee seemed to be the necessary staple.
While I was working, I found a cup of coffee was a great companion on the trip into the office. The second cup was an opportunity to catch up with some folks while at the coffee pot. Sometimes it was business but many times it was about family or sports or current affairs. Coffee seemed to be a good common thread to initiate that conversation.
Today, I still like a “traveler” to take with me when I head into town to go to my wood shop. I listen to the local news while enjoying that cup of warm liquid on the way in. Unfortunately, when I get to the shop, I am usually by myself until my wife gets there. She occasionally drives in with me but then heads off to visit her boyfriend Magnum. He is one big horse and I don’t get in the middle of that. I typically make a small pot of coffee but rarely finish it as I get busy on some projects and forget to have another cup.
I recently solved that problem and I feel very good about it. I now have one of those single cup Keurig’s. It has been a great addition to the shop. I don’t waste coffee and can make a fresh cup anytime of the day. That is so cool. Even though you can get all kinds of fancy options for the type of drink you may want, I am still perfectly happy with regular coffee. I have to admit that I have never been able to break the habit of adding some creamer and some sugar. I think I need to get some saltines and butter and life would certainly be complete.
And that’s the situation as I survey it …
After a 35-year career downstate amongst da trolls, during which he built a successful engineering and surveying business, John Matonich is back home in da U.P. His column will appear here occasionally, don’tcha know. His book “Surveyin’ Da Situation” is available on Amazon.com.
Image credit: Fredrik Rubensson
I really enjoyed reading this. It made me nostalgia for my childhood. We need to cherish those moments with our dads, while they are still with us.
As for coffee, I had been trying to cut back on how much I drink after a friend had a stroke and his doctor told him the coffee is thinning his blood vessels. That is scary stuff for me, but still I find myself brewing a fresh pot out of habit.
I agree about cherishing moments. I wish Dad were still around to share in my life today. I hope you can balance the coffee intake with Doc’s suggestions…
Love this article. My coffee memory from childhood involves the rare occasions when we were treated to doughnuts for breakfast. My parents insisted that you can’t have a doughnut without a cuppa to dunk it in. I felt so grown up with my cup of half milk coffee. Also got it over vanilla ice cream to make a sundae. Good memories!
I like the rule about having coffee with doughnuts. That is a great combo and made for super memories…
I prefer a French Press (make sure it’s insulated) or a plain ol’ espresso machine. I find the Kuerig doesn’t make a bold enpugh brew, from the ones I’ve tried. Heard they’re made better now.
DITTO Fred and Pam! Great story, great memories.
Lots of memories are made with a cup of coffee. It’s a natural ice-breaker. Love your story.
Thanks, Judith…really appreciate it…
Excellent article!
I’m not much of a regular coffee drinker myself, but I do enjoy those fancy latte things & cappuccinos! My husband, though, is a major coffee drinker, nothing fancy, just coffee with half & half and a little bit of sugar. We, too, have a Keurig & they are great!
What a sweet memory you have of your dad! I hope you always cherish it!
Thanks Tina. I like you hubby’s choice of coffee. I have many greatmemories of my Dad and will be sharing some in the future when I can…
Can’t wait to read them!
Coffee smelled SO good, when I was a kid, but then tasted SO bad. Did any of you guys have that same experience? Now, of course, I like it, but I did not start drinking it until Dave Schultz shamed me.
In tenth grade, we used to go to some places in Ann Arbor. We all would order french fries and a coke. Except! One day, Dave ordered a salad and coffee. Wow! I was SO impressed! Dave seemed SO sophisticated, compared with the rest of us! I have been ordering coffee ever since.
Cheers to Dave Schultz! Dave, you changed my life. I hope your life has been happy.
I can relate to the smells good, tastes bad, Tom. I guess that’s why I still load up with cream and sugar…
I remember the first day of pheasant season. My dad and grandpa and uncles and cousins came to hunt on my dads forty acres. Season didn’t start till 10am on the first day, so everybody sat around drinking coffee until it was time to hunt. Never forget those days. They are all gone now but the memories are still there.
And they are great memories to have. I liked it when turkey season started later in the morning as well. Felt more civilized then…